On the Greek island of Corfu (community of Senies), young greeks are organizing a resistance against a project which they consider to be an ecological, social and economic disaster.
Since 2016, the New York investment fund NCH Capital has held the title to “the Kassiopi property”. A 99-year concession, priced at 23 million euros. And so it is in the heart of the natural virgin forest of Erimitis – one of the last preserved areas of the island, located 2.6 kilometers from the Albanian coast with a breathtaking view of the sea – that a luxury resort consisting of a hotel with 90 rooms, a “village” of residences and a marina should soon see the light of day. Officially, only 7% of the 49 hectares should be built. Work began last June with the destruction of a former Navy observation post.
During his visit on July 11th, Kyriakos Mitsotakis considered that the project was “good for Corfu and for the country”. The government estimates that the project will create 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and 500 during its operation. Mitsotakis added that Greece “needs” high-level tourism that “values” the territories and “respects” the environment. The Prime Minister considers that a framed development of natural spaces according to strict rules is preferable than “to do nothing”. “In many cases, unused land does not encourage the protection of the environment,” he said before adding that “if nothing is done, it will burn in any case “. *
A few weeks later, on August 16, a part of the property caught fire. The direction of the wind that day meant that out of 13 hectares burnt, about 7 belonged to another owner. As of today, the perpetrator has not yet been identified. But some activists find the coincidence strange. While NCH Capital intended to plant its own forest (with species different from those naturally present), the latter believe that the image to put green on a land of ashes – is more positive than the one of uprooting a lush natural forest.
The North-East of Corfu being a privileged holiday resort, rich families, mainly British, are among the opponents of the project. In two tweets, Mr Rothschild, the British financier Nathaniel Rothschild, a member of the famous banking family, called the project a “total disaster” which will bring Corfu back to “the mass development of the 1970s” and “bring nothing to the local economy“. The financier said that “Mitsotakis is foolish to defend this project“. British financier Ben Goldsmith, brother of Tory Minister Zac Goldsmith, is another notable opponent. A group of around 200 British homeowners in Corfu called Kyriakos Mitsotakis to reverse.
If the city council is also firmly opposed to the project, the mayor of the north of the island having even participated in a demonstration, on the other hand, the regional governor of Corfu is in favor, believing that Greece must regain “the confidence of investors”. The Council of State, the highest administrative court in Greece, which settles environmental disputes, has also approved the project.
But among the opponents, a new association, which has emerged for 10 months now, is particularly determined. Apolitical, and is mainly made up of young greeks.
All are everyday environmental heroes, determined to slow down the project through their mobilization. At the origin of new alternatives, they have a smile on their face, and a very present hope.
On the program: organization of a demonstration on July 11 with a thousand demonstrators, communication campaign on social networks on the importance of the places, popularization of testimonies from scientists explaining the importance of such a rich ecosystem, publication of photographs or music video showing the beauty of the place, installation of posters in the streets, training in non-violent demonstration provided by Greenpeace, or even a future demonstration in Germany in October, etc. The scope of the association is vast.
* (Source : AFP Article : https://www.geo.fr/environnement/grece-vent-debout-contre-un-complexe-touristique-de-luxe-a-corfou-201460)